That’s all from me. Thanks for the comments, even the pedantry ones.
Australia win by 25 runs!
The bits:
Australia 348-8 (50)
India 323 all out (49.2)
The pieces:
This will look on first glance like the fourth straight victory for a rampant Australian side over an Indian outfit who are almost there but not quite. Scratch the surface and you’ll reveal one of the more remarkable endings to an ODI in recent memory.
India were cruising at 277-1 but somehow contrived to be all out just 46 runs and 12 overs later. On a road.
It’s testament to Australia’s never-say-die spirit and Steve Smith’s captaincy, rotating his bowlers throughout but sticking with his golden arms when they were on song. Kane Richardson takes man of the match honours for his five-for but it was John Hastings who deserves the most credit, keeping his side in it when Dhawan and Kohli were rampant and then chipping in with crucial wickets in his final over.
For India this will be a painful blow. They were in such a strong position for so long but batsman after batsman gave his wicket away. At the time Dhawan looked to have succumbed to fatigue but it seemed inconsequential. Half an hour later and he would have been cursing himself for not creeping to the finishing post in singles, especially as Mitch Marsh heaved his cramping body into its delivery stride to deliver the telling knockout blows.
WICKET! Sharma c Wade b Marsh 0 (India 323)
Stick a fork in it. Sharma tries to carve Marsh through the covers on the move, but unfortunately he’s number 11 in a collapse for the ages and the ball shaves his bat and carries through to Wade who, perhaps surprisingly, holds on to the winning catch.
49th over: India 323-9 (Jadeja 24, Sharma 0) Target: 349
Jadeja is doing his best but looks almost apologetic as he cuts Faulkner for four. A series of beautiful slower balls from the Tasmanian are unplayable, leaving 26 from the final over and Ishant Sharma on strike. 11 overs and 50 minutes of mayhem have turned this match on its head.
Meanwhile... Patrick Leatham emails: …actually, there were no Captains in the Home Guard – Mr. Mainwaring gave himself the title. I think this was covered in one of the early black and white episodes.
Another Pedant
WICKET! Yadav c Bailey v Marsh 2 (India 315-9)
Finally Marsh gets his wicket. Just reward for battling through the cramp and the dropped sitters. Yadav again tries to do something he’s incapable of and skies one to the composed George Bailey.
Jadeja or bust now for India. This will go down as one of the most spectacular collapses ever.
48th over: India 313-8 (Jadeja 16, Yadav 1) Target: 349
A merciful break in play but a painful one for Mitch Marsh who has a crippling bout of hamstring cramp. Clearly this is hilarious to the TV commentary team.
Marsh battles through the agony and he’s rewarded by Kane Richardson running in from long off and shelling a catch! Yadav is not who India want on strike right now, just mowing his willow like a farmhand with a scythe.
Another drop! Wade again! Has Canberra been pumped with experimental happy gasses? Short, wide and Jadeja top edges but it’s dropped by the keeper.
47th over: India 313-8 (Jadeja 16, Yadav 1) Target: 349
Dane emails: Rightly or wrongly this all feels a little dubious...
I’m sure you’re not alone there Dane. Lucky we’re not watching the tennis...
Yadav is swinging from the hip and he looks like a proper tailender. A village green tailender. Somehow he’s farming the strike too. Deary me, this is an awful calamity for India.
46th over: India 311-8 (Jadeja 15, Yadav 0) Target: 349
Do you remember the good old days? Those lazy afternoons when we waxed lyrical about cricketers that looked like movie stars?
Wicket maiden from Kane Richardson. The 96th over an ODI featuring over 650 runs is a wicket maiden. Incredible stuff from Richardson who finishes with 5/68.
Kumar c Smith b Richardson 2 (India 311-8)
... how costly? Not costly at all! Smith snaffles another at slip and Richardson has a five-for! Oh my giddy aunt.
45th over: India 311-7 (Jadeja 15, Kumar 1) Target: 349
How costly will that miss from Wade prove? It was a simple catch for an international wicket-keeper.
Robert Wolf Petersen: Peter Leybourne’s obviously lying. He quite clearly loves being a pedant.
A. Pedant
Dropped catch!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a healthy edge off Faulkner and Wade drops a regulation catch to his right.
WICKET! Dhawan c Warner b Richardson 9 (India 308-7)
44th over: India 308-6 (Jadeja 14, Dhawan 7) Target: 349
Finally a partnership looks to be forming with Rishi Dhawan counterattacking Richardson with confidence. Hang on...no...really...you can’t be serious...Dhawan’s gone as well! Massive swish and the ball spirals away in a parabola of pain straight to the hungry hippo Warner just inside the cover boundary. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
43rd over: India 299-6 (Jadeja 11, Dhawan 3) Target: 349
While I’ve been busy narrating the carnage, I’ve not had time to add much analysis. Not that there is a whole lot to add. Human nature. Confidence. The glorious unpredictability of sport. Nothing’s changed in the conditions, only the shots have missed their marks and the ball’s kept going to hand.
Peter Leybourne: Hate to be a pedant.Mainwaring was Mr when he was the bank manager but was Captain Mainwaring when it was action stations. And the panic has set in. The Indians don’t like it up ‘em.
Regards
WICKET! Rahane c Smith b Richardson 2 (India 294-6)
42nd over: India 294-6 (Jadeja 9, Dhawan 0) Target: 349
Am I drunk? Are we all drunk? Is this really happening? The Manuka road has become a minefield all of a sudden! Rahane this time the one to go, edging Richardson to the solitary slip. This is a comeback / collapse for the ages.
41st over: India 291-5 (Jadeja 6, Rahane 2) Target: 349
The injured Rahane has been called into active duty and the poor bloke can be forgiven for cursing some of his colleagues for dumping his sore hand into this situation. Incredible collapse from India.
WICKET! Mann c sub (S Marsh) b Lyon 5 (India 286-5)
What is happening out there!? This is chaos! Mann the latest to throw his wicket away, top edging an attempted slog sweep off Lyon high in the air and into the safe hands of Shaun Marsh.
40th over: India 282-4 (Mann 1, Jadeja 3) Target: 349
Run rate edging up towards seven rpo again, two new batsmen, Australia with their tails up. Nobody expected this.
WICKET! Kohli c Smith b Richardson 106 (India 278-4)
Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring! Kohli’s gone! Richardson into the attack and Kohli miscues a lofted drive straight to mid-off. Out of nowhere we have a game on our hands!
39th over: India 278-3 (Kohli 106, Mann 0) Target: 349
Lyon heaping the pressure on the new batsman Gurkeerat Singh Mann, playing just his second ODI. Just one run from it and Australia are just prising ajar a door that was firmly closed to them just a few minutes ago.
Over to you Mr Kohli.
WICKET! Dhoni c Wade b Hastings 0 (India 277-3)
38th over: India 277-3 (Kohli 105, Mann 0) Target: 349
What was that about cakewalks? Dhoni walks down the pitch to Hastings like he’s had a bellyful of Mr Kipling’s finest, feathering a nothing shot behind to the keeper.
Hastings finishes with 2/50. Superb effort in the circumstances.
Game on?
WICKET! Dhawan c Bailey b Hastings 126 (India 277-2)
Everyone out there starting to look a little fatigued and it shows in Dhawan’s swipe at a full wide delivery from Hastings that flies straight to George Bailey at point. The end of a brilliant knock and deserved reward for Australia’s best bowler.
37th over: India 274-1 (Dhawan 124, Kohli 105) Target: 349
India continue their habit of hitting boundaries from the first delivery of the over, setting them up to play sensibly thereafter. They’ve scored more runs off ball one than any other in the six this innings.
Kohli also joins Rohit, Laxman and the mighty Graeme Hick in making consecutive ODI tons versus Australia at home. #AUSvIND
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 20, 2016
36th over: India 265-1 (Dhawan 116, Kohli 104) Target: 349
Drinks are taken with India requiring 90 runs to win from 90 deliveries with 9 wickets in hand. Cakewalk.
Kohli’s 25th ODI ton by the way. Second behind Sachin on India’s all time list. Not for long you’d suspect.
Most international 100s in Aus by visiting bat 9 J Hobbs/D Gower/Virat Kohli 8 B Lara 7 W Hammond/V Richards/S Tendulkar/V Laxman #AusvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 20, 2016
CENTURY! Kohli 101 (84)
Back to back tons from Virat Kohli. This one a belter. His duel with nemesis Faulkner has been the highlight but his mix of power and grace has been a treat. 91, 59, 117, 101* - what a series!
35th over: India 258-1 (Dhawan 115, Kohli 99) Target: 349
What happened here? Dhawan cuts Marsh to George Bailey at point who dives, leaps up claiming a catch, but there’s a hint of uncertainty about it all. To begin with Bailey doesn’t control the ball for long. The umpires are going upstairs. Predictably the replays don’t look favourably on the fielder and Dhawan remains not out. Bailey looked a bit sheepish throughout all that.
@JPHowcroft I can't believe I missed that one. Could also add James Brayshaw as Janice
— phil withall (@phil_withall) January 20, 2016
34th over: India 251-1 (Dhawan 108, Kohli 98) Target: 349
Couple of overs of pressure and Kohli responds by gliding down the pitch like Fred Astaire and timing Hastings through the covers for four. Does anyone in world cricket enjoy the cut and thrust of a contest more than VK?
Phil Withall’s joining in:
Evening Jonathan,
Your idea for a Kohli/Faulkner Sit Com had me thinking. I see it as a Friends type programme. Kohli in the Chandler role, Faulkner as Monica, K.P as Ross, Steve Smith as Rachel, Kerry O’Keefe as Phoebe and Shane Warne as Joey. I think it has the right mixture to be a hit.
Cheers
Surely Chris Gayle as Joey, no? “How you doin?”
33rd over: India 244-1 (Dhawan 106, Kohli 93) Target: 349
Marsh bowling to a packed offside field up in the ring and he bowls full and wide and only concedes two runs. A minor miracle for Australia.
I'm filling time by teaching members of the Indian press to do the YMCA. But I draw the line at the Chicken Dance. https://t.co/etBujixCgL
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) January 20, 2016
32nd over: India 242-1 (Dhawan 105, Kohli 92) Target: 349
Another sterling effort from Hastings but India are in cruise control now. So much so, the Manuka PA system is playing The Birdie Song!
CENTURY! Dhawan 102 (92 balls)
31st over: India 238-1 (Dhawan 103, Kohli 90) Target: 349
Cracking century from Shikhar Dhawan. Raises the bat with a delicate cut through the gully region off the forlorn Nathan Lyon. It’s his ninth ODI century and he’s mixed power with precision from the off. That leaping square cut will linger in the memory.
Updated
30th over: India 227-1 (Dhawan 92, Kohli 90) Target: 349
On another day this performance from Hastings would earn rave reviews. As it is he’s 0/30 off 6 and it’s merely a sideshow to the batting masterclass.
In case you were wondering...
Today marks the anniversaries of Australia's 1992 (India) & 1996 (Sri Lanka) World Series Cup triumphs #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ElDwyf2fxP
— Aust Cricketers Assn (@ACA_Players) January 20, 2016
29th over: India 224-1 (Dhawan 90, Kohli 89) Target: 349
Lyon back into the attack and Kohli is into him like a chocoholic at Wonka’s factory. India could do this in singles now. Which they won’t, because Kohli has something to prove out there.
28th over: India 218-1 (Dhawan 89, Kohli 84) Target: 349
Hastings the latest victim called into the firing line by Sergeant Smith. The burly bowler is mixing his lines, lengths, speeds, angles of attack, and he’s shown some respect by the batsmen. Still five off it mind you, easily enough for India in the context of the match.
On a sunset scale of 0 to Adelaide, Manuka rates pretty well pic.twitter.com/vnnSjvmrMe
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) January 20, 2016
27th over: India 212-1 (Dhawan 88, Kohli 79) Target: 349
Kohli welcomes Lyon back into the attack with a preposterous whip for four through midwicket. All wrists and no timing that one. Dhawan ups the ante with a reverse sweep for four.
Hard to know what Smith can do out there. This will take a batting brain fade for it not to go India’s way from here.
26th over: India 204-1 (Dhawan 84, Kohli 75) Target: 349
Smith keeps himself on and he’s at least making this pair of set batsmen think. Even so, Dhawan sweeps for four and then lofts over mid-off to bring the run rate down to near enough a run a ball. This has been a clinic so far from India.
25th over: India 194-1 (Dhawan 75, Kohli 74) Target: 349
Kohli has moved into troll mode now, launching his favourite plaything Faulkner miles into the Canberra night. 103 metres is the final measurement.
Tapan emails in: On the topic of lookalikes - How about jimmy Anderson and colin Farrell? Not a bad shout, although I reckon Jimmy might have done a better job in True Detective.
24th over: India 184-1 (Dhawan 72, Kohli 67) Target: 349
Skipper Smith knows he needs something special and that means there’s only man for the job. Himself.
Kohli wins the battle of the captains though, driving inside out through the covers with fast hands. Decent over from Smudger though, hopefully enough for a second dart.
@JPHowcroft Jean Harlow doesn't say Stuart Broad to you? Not even a little bit? She had a decent off-cutter, Jean H. pic.twitter.com/LlapBrK0N4
— Robert McL Wilson (@Parisbob2001) January 20, 2016
23rd over: India 178-1 (Dhawan 71, Kohli 62) Target: 349
“Fast asleep back there” chirrups Kohli to Faulkner over the missed run out chance. These two could have their own sitcom.
Turn. On. The. Cricket. Right. Now. #AUSvIND
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 20, 2016
22nd over: India 172-1 (Dhawan 69, Kohli 58) Target: 349
A rare boundary-less over from Marsh but still a decent one for India thanks to the two wides thrown down by the Mickey Rourke-a-like. Sniff of a run-out chance for Faulkner but his shy at the stumps misses.
Only three sides have made 350+ batting 2nd against Australia India - twice (362/1 & 351/4) Once each - SAf (438/9) and NZ (350/9) #AusvInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 20, 2016
21st over: India 165-1 (Dhawan 67, Kohli 55)
Even good looking overs, like this from Richardson, somehow go for plenty. Dhawan scores just two from the first four deliveries and then unfurls a pull for four so delicate it would barely break an egg and places his bat in the way of a straight one that skips away to the boundary past the umpire’s feet. Sumptuous batting.
20th over: India 154-1 (Dhawan 56, Kohli 55)
India mixing up the singles and boundaries nicely, rotating the strike between left and right handers.
How about Aaron Finch and Chris Pratt? Anyone with me?
19th over: India 149-1 (Dhawan 55, Kohli 51)
Wicket taker Richardson back after drinks and he’s clearly a target of Kohli’s. A slog is mistimed in the air towards mid on before a square cut boundary and a pulled two bring up a 34-ball 50.
Keep the cricketer / movie star or movie character lookalikes coming.
India just clicked over to favourites, according to the betting. #AUSvIND
— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) January 20, 2016
18th over: India 140-1 (Dhawan 55, Kohli 42)
India coasting towards their target without taking many risks or seemingly breaking sweat. Nothing happening in the air or off the pitch. What Steve Smith would give right now for a Mitchell or two. A different Mitchell I mean, a Starc or a Johnson. The Marsh variety is trying hard but not looking like making a breakthrough.
Glenn Maxwell on one leg almost makes cricket a fair game again. Ha ha ha! No, of course it doesn't. But we mustn't gloat. #Maxwellball
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) January 20, 2016
17th over: India 133-1 (Dhawan 50, Kohli 40)
Maxwell on to fire some darts from around the wicket and it’s pretty ordinary to tell you the truth. Wides, long hops and Dhawan’s 50 the outcome.
16th over: India 123-1 (Dhawan 45, Kohli 36)
Marsh backing up Lyon’s tight over with one of his own. He nearly nabbed a wicket too, Kohli lofting one to square leg that was in the air for a long time but out of reach of Hastings. Lots of chat on commentary about the pacemen bowling largely cross seam deliveries. If I was Lord Commander of cricket I would make sure balls were manufactured in such a way as to near guarantee swing. As fun as it is to watch batsmen clobber boundaries for hours on end, it’s hard to put all these runs in context any more.
15th over: India 118-1 (Dhawan 44, Kohli 32)
A reminder that 13 of Kohli's 24 ODI tons have come in successful run chases. Averages 86 in 2nd innings of matches India win #AUSvIND
— Martin Smith (@martinsmith9994) January 20, 2016
Good over from Lyon, stems the bleeding somewhat, but India are right in the hunt with the run-rate around 6.6 rpo from hereon.
14th over: India 114-1 (Dhawan 42, Kohli 30)
Mitch Marsh the latest bowler to be hit for four by Kohli, this time working a short ball down to the fine leg fence.
Another nomination for cricket / movie lookalikes: Mitch Marsh and a young Mickey Rourke. Not modern Mickey, obviously, but take a look at some of his younger shots and tell me you don’t see a heavy ball.
13th over: India 106-1 (Dhawan 39, Kohli 25)
Lyon back and India content to milk the singles until Kohli sashays down the pitch and lofts the ball over cover and away to the boundary.
Back to that earlier crowd catch...
A superb shot from Rohit, but what about the grab from old mate in the stands! https://t.co/0zWNVRAZEn #AUSvIND https://t.co/ARbRIFOTHt
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 20, 2016
Updated
12th over: India 98-1 (Dhawan 37, Kohli 19)
My word, Kohli is top draw. He’s lined Faulkner up again, just like in the previous ODI and with the Australian bowling fast and full, the Indian calmly spanks him through the covers for back to back fours. He’s like a matador trying to find the angriest bull to prove himself against. This is going to be fun.
11th over: India 88-1 (Dhawan 36, Kohli 10)
Special from Dhawan, leaping and cutting Hastings for six over point with both feet off the ground. It wasn’t a flash delivery but Dhawan’s leap will mean it’s replayed the world over. Think Pete Townshend windmilling the final chords of My Generation, replace the guitar with a cricket bat, and you’re in the right ballpark.
10th over: India 80-1 (Dhawan 29, Kohli 9)
Smith clearly has a scriptwriter’s sensibility, bringing Faulkner on to bowl with Kohli on strike. The Indian skipper looks in glorious touch, milking two boundaries and a single in the manner of an office worker absent-mindedly opening his mail, pouring a coffee and making chit chat with his coworker about his kids.
That’s the first Powerplay completed - the game perfectly poised.
9th over: India 70-1 (Dhawan 28, Kohli 0)
With a total this big to chase India can’t afford to lose early wickets, especially with Rahane struggling with split webbing.
Hastings continuing to hammer the ball into the turf like he has some kind of lifelong enmity with the Manuka Oval surface. It’s a brutalist exhibition of the human condition. Massive man lumbering in and seemingly without point punishing the earth for its sins.
8th over: India 65-1 (Dhawan 24, Kohli 0)
That wicket really was a freebie for Australia. By the way, a superb crowd catch amongst Sharma’s pair of sixes. More of that to come in gif form I expect.
WICKET! Sharma c Wade b Richardson 41 (India 65-1)
Sharma was getting his eye in big time, slapping Richardson over square leg for two huge sixes and working him for another boundary. An innocuous leg-side delivery proves his undoing though, gloving a chance well pouched by Matthew Wade. Gift for Australia.
7th over: India 47-0 (Sharma 24, Dhawan 23)
Hastings is bending his back, hustling in, really planting the ball into the unresponsive pitch. No boundaries from the over.
Robert Wilson has outdone himself in the lookalike game, he’s suggesting chisel-jawed singing cowboy Gene Autry doesn’t look like a specific cricketer, but every Australian cricketer that’s ever played the game. He might be on to something there.
6th over: India 44-0 (Sharma 21, Dhawan 23)
Dhawan’s on the move! First he breaks Richardson’s shackles with a hoick to leg that came down with snow on it. A four later in the over looked sweet too but only just beat Steve Smith’s dive at short cover.
5th over: India 30-0 (Sharma 18, Dhawan 12)
Big John Hastings on in place of Lyon and he’s a much better foil for Richardson, banging it in hard on a length. Nothing happening in the air or off the wicket, all about mixing up length and pace for the quicks tonight.
Francis Vierboom is joining in my lookalike chat, and he’s sent in a doozy. He reckons retired ODI legend Nathan Bracken looks like, wait for it...Keira Knightley! That’s one for cheekbone connoisseurs.
4th over: India 26-0 (Sharma 15, Dhawan 11)
Distinctive floodlights at Manuka on full beam as dusk envelopes the ground. The towers resemble giant versions of those Y-shaped dental floss aids.
Richardson continuing to keep India’s openers on their guard, two from the over.
3rd over: India 24-0 (Sharma 14, Dhawan 10)
14 from the over and India are trucking.
Modern cricket in a nutshell to get them on their way too. Rohit Sharma mistimes a lofted drive into the vacant extra cover region; undeterred, he then carts Lyon over midwicket next ball. Lyon is unlucky again later in the over as first Warner and then Maxwell fail to get fingers onto difficult chances offered by Dhawan. Can’t really call either chances, but with this calibre of fielder you never know.
2nd over: India 7-0 (Sharma 5, Dhawan 2)
Kane Richardson sharing the new ball and he’s immediately on a good line to both right and left handed openers. Beard, undercut, sleeve of tats, what would Neil Harvey make of the Gen Y fast bowler?
1st over: India 6-0 (Sharma 5, Dhawan 1)
Nathan Lyon a surprise choice to open the bowling for Australia. Even more surprising, this is just the off-spinner’s ninth ODI.
Sharma slog sweeps a boundary but it’s an otherwise low-key start to a mammoth run chase.
Word from the ground that a few showers drifted over during the interval but it’s now warm, humid and dry.
Now the fun and games.
Ishant Sharma was the pick of India’s attack, finishing with 4/77. However, whenever I see the lanky paceman in action, all I can picture is John Turturro’s magnificent Jesus from The Big Lebowski. Is it just me?
Who are your favourite cricket / movie lookalikes?
Some housekeeping before we get stuck into some fun and games...
Rahane has split the webbing in his right hand. Needed four stitches. Can bat if required. #AUSvIND
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) January 20, 2016
The expectation at the ground is Rahane will probably arrive at the crease in the lower order, and only then, if required.
Umpire Kettleborough forced from the field following this nasty blow: https://t.co/lmhdWIg3Jd #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Wbetw1ln1i
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 20, 2016
Paul ‘Blocker’ Wilson is now officiating with Richard Kettleborough limping from the field after being struck by a nasty blow to his right leg. It won’t be long before the poor jumper collectors are standing in full Robocop body armour.
Thanks Geoff, splendid effort from you and a splendid effort from the Australian batsmen. There was talk earlier this week of 340 being the new 300 and Australia always looked likely to reach a total that size on a flat pitch offering little for the bowlers.
On his way from the field Glenn Maxwell commented that 348 was “a really good score.” Thanks to the Manuka surface being “a tough pitch, a little slow.” How confident was the boy from Belgrave of Australia’s chances? “That should be easy to defend.” Righto then.
India need 349 to win
Well, you can see the crowd at the ground sitting back in their seats, and almost hear them exhaling in relief. What a chaotic finish: four wickets, fours, sixes, trick shots, and John Hastings not needing to face a ball.
We thought it would be a massive total when we looked at the pitch this morning, and here it is.
Australia has been able to do what India was not in the first three games, and add a final burst of acceleration to a very good platform. A chase around 350 is a very different proposition to 300.
The pitch will remain good, but it might slow up a little in the evening session, and batting under lights isn’t always easy. But Virat Kohli has 14 centuries in ODI run-chases, and Dhoni is also one of the best chasers in the world.
Rohit Sharma has two tons in three outings this series, and Shikhar Dhawan came good at the MCG.
Can they challenge this total? It will be something special if they can.
Geoff Lemon on my way, and I’ll leave you with my colleague Jonathan Howcroft.
WICKET! Maxwell c Pandey b Ishant 41 (20 balls)
50th over: Australia 343-8 (Hastings 0)
Ishant Sharma with the challenge, and it’s...
SIX! A short ball but not short enough, and Maxwell utterly pounds that into the general Canberra population.
Four! The most outrageous shot of the day! A reverse-sweep to a fast bowler. More a reverse pull, even. How do you play that? How do you get any power on that, and time it? It was barely outside off, but Maxwell slashed it over backward point.
Four! Traditional cover drive. He’s like a fusion restaurant, mixing the classical and the avant-garde. Who is this man? It’s elevated, and four.
The fourth ball, he misses connection completely.
The fifth, four more, lofted straight over mid-off.
The sixth, and the last of the innings, a pull shot that he doesn’t entirely connect with, and the substitute fieldsman Pandey pulls off a catch in Rahane’s stead.
Ishant has the wicket, but has paid 18 runs for it in that over.
Photograph: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
Updated
49th over: Australia 330-7 (Maxwell 23, Hastings 0)
Some over. The two wickets fall, but Maxwell is undeterred. First he ramps Yadav down through fine leg for four. Then he gets a wide full toss that he somehow drags to the on-side for four more.
Then sensible, cleverly, a single to keep the strike with an over to go. What can he do with it?
WICKET! Wade run out (Yadav) 0 (2 balls)
They’re going down in clusters. Two leg byes from his first ball, then Wade’s second sees him a bit slow to the non-striker’s end, and Rohit drills the ball back to Yadav over the stumps.
WICKET! Faulkner b Yadav 0 (1 ball)
Congratulations, the Golden Globe goes to James Faulkner.
He might average 119 in the second innings, but this is the first, and his missed sweep shot sees the furniture disarrayed.
WICKET! Bailey c Rohit b Ishant 10 (7 balls)
48th over: Australia 319-5 (Maxwell 14)
Four! Ugly shot though. Maxwell just slogged at Ishant outside off, and top-edged him over short third man. Then a leg bye that hurt Maxwell, into the inside of his knee.
Bailey flicks the ball fine, but there’s a good save from Mann, who just took the catch to dismiss Smith. Three runs.
Brilliant backing up and running from Maxwell with a sore knee as Bailey drives straight, and Maxwell thundered back to the danger end for the second run.
But it brings Bailey undone in the end, as he tries to destroy the last ball of the over down the ground.
Doesn’t catch it cleanly, it goes low and flat towards the long-on boundary, but it’s double Sharma as Rohit comes across to take a fine catch off Ishant.
47th over: Australia 308-4 (Maxwell 9, Bailey 5)
Things have calmed down a bit now, though Bailey is calmly and industriously into his work. A two first ball, then another, then a single. Maxwell gets a couple. Yadav will be happy with seven from the over.
46th over: Australia 301-4 (Maxwell 7, Bailey 0)
Ishant Sharma Sharma Sharma breaks through. Almost got Maxi with one of those extravagant walloping cut shots at his first ball that missed. Then a wide, then two runs with some hard sprinting out to deep midwicket, but the wicket of Smith followed.
Maxwell raises the 300, however, and another big hitter has come in.
It’s BAILEY TIME.
WICKET! Smith c Mann b Ishant 51 (29 balls)
Strange shot, nearly got him six but he’s caught at long leg. Smith came way across his stumps, got outside off, tried to flick Ishant over square leg with an almost vertical bat, but got a very high edge behind square.
It nearly cleared the rope, would have on many grounds, but fell safely into Mann’s hands with a near vertical drop.
45th over: Australia 294-3 (Smith 51, Maxwell 1)
Marsh falls, Maxwell the next man out, the batsman crossed, and it’s immediately a four to raise Smith’s half-century!
Remarkably, that’s from only 27 balls.
And what a shot to do it with. A bit like what Maxwell played the other night at the MCG. A forehand slice, elbows in tight to get the bat angled back towards slip and then lash the short ball out square even though it wasn’t that wide.
Smith’s version goes for four, doesn’t quite have the same absurd power as Maxwell to lift it for six.
Maxwell gets off the mark in this city with a normal, sensible, conventional cut forone.
WICKET! Marsh c Kohli b Yadav 33 (42 balls)
You felt that was coming through his whole innings. Big swat across the line from Marsh, top edge, Kohli came in from the deep and claimed the swirling ball as it dropped from the pregnant grey clouds above.
44th over: Australia 286-2 (Marsh 32, Smith 45)
How easy is that? Six, as Kumar dishes up a full toss at Steve Smith’s hip, and the batsman pulls it over the fence at deep backward.
Even when he’s not on strike, Smith is on point. Twice in a row he burns back to the danger end for a second run after Marsh goes down the ground.
43rd over: Australia 274-2 (Marsh 28, Smith 38)
Sixer! Straight from Sydney, and almost went to Sydney. Big on-drive from Smith from a slot ball, deep into the crowd.
Maybe the umpires can give latitude on switch-hit wides, because Smith shapes to reverse-sweep Ishant, and the bowler fires down leg, but no wide is called.
Aside from that though, Smith takes a two, another two, a single, then Marsh ends the over with a flick through square leg for four.
42nd over: Australia 259-2 (Marsh 24, Smith 27)
Smith on the curtain rail across his stumps, cruising either side of the wicket when he feels like it.
He opens up the off-side to Yadav, and drives through wide long-on. Yadav sprints across and slides, but his feet are too far back and they clip the rope as he knocks the ball back. Four.
Now it’s Marsh trying to injure a bowler, nearly taking out Rishi Dhawan. Two doubles to close the over. Runs galore.
A question from Matt Harris on email. “On the rules around wides: if Jadeja had bowled down the left hand side and Warner hadn’t hit it, would that be a wide in virtue of having travelled down the [original] leg side, or a dot ball in virtue of having travelled down the [now] off side?”
My understanding is that it would still in theory be a wide, because the leg stump is the leg stump forever and ever amen. I love the switch hit, but I reckon the rules should reflect that if a batsman changes stance, there’s no longer such a thing as a wide down leg. Bowlers need some recourse.
The PA broadcasting ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.’ Always risky in this country.
41st over: Australia 248-2 (Marsh 19, Smith 21)
Six! Kumar back, and Smith immediately puts him over the fence. Shikhar Dhawan was out there at deep midwicket, maybe if he’d been right on the rope he might have jumped to intercept that, but even that might be wishful thinking.
Amazing Smith got so much power in that shot, just flipped away.
Two singles, a two, a leg bye. Runs coming now. Smith has passed Marsh already.
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40th over: Australia 237-2 (Marsh 18, Smith 12)
Rishi Dhawan back, even though India have got through their fifth-bowler allotment thanks to he and Mann.
Not so easy for Dhawan now, as Smith moves across his stumps so much. One such shot is pulled fine for four, another through the same region for three.
Just finds gaps that don’t exist for other batsmen.
39th over: Australia 229-2 (Marsh 17, Smith 5)
Jadeja doing well, with a couple of singles only, and a ball that makes Steve Smith roll in the dirt. He shaped to sweep, then lost his footing and fell over backwards. Luckily he was forward from the stumps.
But Jadeja undoes his work with a full toss at the end of the over, that Sniffer duly clubs square for four.
38th over: Australia 222-2 (Marsh 15, Smith 0)
No other jiggery-pokery with the batting line-up, as Itchy Smith comes out to tweak his pads, itch his box, jiggle his knees, twinkle his toes, wrinkle his nose and produce some witchery.
Plays and misses first ball, nice delivery from Yadav, zipped past the edge. Then driving to the field for a dot next ball.
The scoreboard ends the over at a Full Richie.
WICKET! Finch c Sharma b Yadav 107 (107 balls)
Breakthrough number two - Finch goes for a big wipe across the line, top edge, spiralled high over wide mid-on, Kohli was coming in from midwicket but Sharma held his nerve running back, never the most reliable man in the field, and held the catch as it fell behind him.
37th over: Australia 220-1 (Finch 107, Marsh 14)
Dicey stuff from Marsh! First a slog sweep that shows all three stumps to Jadeja, but Marsh gets bat on it and goes through midwicket for four. Then Marsh misses a sweep, is trapped straight in front, and is somehow not given. Maybe it hit him outside the line? Maybe, but it looked sackable for me.
36th over: Australia 214-1 (Finch 106, Marsh 9)
As he did earlier, Yadav starts the over with a friendly short ball that Finch swats for four. Gets a single, then it’s a boundary for Mitch Marsh! Phew, he says, as he drives Yadav with a lofted shot down the ground. That’s his zone, good straight hitter. Two dot balls then a single. Marsh now 9 from 23.
35th over: Australia 204-1 (Finch 101, Marsh 4)
Jadeja starts his 8th over, he’s gone for 35 from his 42 balls so far. Good in the circumstances. Finch takes an early single.
Marsh faces another dot, then finally gets a couple of runs driving down the ground. Then two more scoreless balls.
He’s 4 from 19, will need to find his range and catch up or else this promotion could be a bit embarrassing. Especially with Smith, Bailey and Maxwell waiting to come and drive this score towards 350.
Marsh certainly has the capability, we’ve seen some long, long, long hitting from him in the past.
Updated
CENTURY! Finch 100 (97 balls)
34th over: Australia 201-1 (Finch 100, Marsh 2)
Yadav back and Finch enjoys the pace! Short ball, crashed on the pull for four. Half-tricker really, sat up nicely around rib height, Finch had no trouble. Onto 99, Marsh tries to charge down the wicket next ball but there was no single. Chill, Mitchell.
Crowd clapping. Finch jabs a ball off his ribcage, takes the single, and that’s it. He slaps the air with his bat, pulls off his helmet and gives the general indications of deep personal satisfaction.
Finch’s seventh ODI century. Marsh can’t get a run from the last three balls. Two from 15 deliveries now.
33rd over: Australia 196-1 (Finch 95, Marsh 2)
If Kohli and Sharma were criticised were slowing down toward their hundreds, Finch certainly could be.
Another two dots from Jadeja before Finch gets a touch of width and is able to run it very fine past the keeper outside off and get three runs. Marsh drives to a very short mid-off, parallel with the umpire, and there’s a mid-on in a similar spot. Dhoni wanting Marsh to chip a ball up.
Marsh can’t score: 2 from 12 now. Trying to get his eye in and then launch big shots, but can he pull that off?
Updated
32nd over: Australia 193-1 (Finch 92, Marsh 2)
Sharma to Finch, trying to make him work and worry on his way to three figures. It’s working: he finds midwicket with his shot three balls out of four. The intervening ball is cut late to third man where Kumar fumbles and allows Finch back for a second.
Finch then nearly pops up a catch to short fine leg, off the hip. Ishant tangles up Marsh next ball, who can only edge into his body.
Updated
31st over: Australia 190-1 (Finch 89, Marsh 2)
Jadeja, the lockdown specialist, will enjoy having a new man to bowl to. He duly keeps Marsh to a single off three balls. Finch hands it back, then Marsh can only drag the next couple back to the bowler. Eight balls for Marsh’s two runs.
30th over: Australia 188-1 (Finch 88, Marsh 1)
It started with Ishant to Finch, down leg, and Finch was able to flick an easy boundary to the fine fence. Served on a plate.
Sharma bowled the same ball, maybe even wider, and was lucky that Finch couldn’t connect, as it only cost Sharma the extra. Then came a single, then the blessed wicket.
Mitchell Marsh comes in at first drop! He’s been promoted to give him the chance for a hit (and even then he had to wait 30 overs as first man in).
Marsh off the mark with a single.
Here’s some nice symmetry for you: Marsh 1, Finch 88, Australia 188.
Updated
WICKET! Warner b Sharma 93 (92 balls)
Bails fly! Warner aimed a big on-side drive at a fullish Sharma ball, maybe not quite full enough, little inside edge that redirected it back onto middle stump. Finally the Indians break through.
29th over: Australia 181-0 (Warner 93, Finch 83)
Tim Gable on ABC Grandstand explaining that this is Australia’s third ODI at Manuka, but South Africa have also played three ODIs here. Home away from home.
Jadeja quickly back into the attack, only two singles from his over as he gets some accurate bowling back into the game. Both these batsmen on track for hundreds now, they won’t want to throw it away.
The Indian batsmen were criticised in some quarters for doing the same thing, but you can’t really blame them. At this time of the innings, sensible consolidation is worth more than wild lashing.
Updated
28th over: Australia 179-0 (Warner 92, Finch 82)
Warner picks up a couple through square leg to move into the 90s, nervous or otherwise, then drives a single down the ground. Ishant Sharma is the bowler now, the tall and quick sporter of a man-bun being perhaps Dhoni’s best chance of a wicket. Except perhaps Yadav? Only four overs bowled for him, even if they were a little costly. Seven runs from Sharma’s over in ones and twos, no alarms.
27th over: Australia 172-0 (Warner 88, Finch 79)
The Finch is in flight! Forget about eagles and whether they’ve landed, all eyes should be on the avian Australian.
Kumar’s tidy first over is pounded into distant memory as Finch flicks a couple of runs square, then glances through fine leg for four, then clubs a full ball over midwicket for six, then plays his best shot of the day with a gorgeously timed square drive that looks like it should go for one, but beats the field into the fence.
16 from the over, all to Finch, and he could catch Warner at this rate, who has slowed right down since his earlier flurry of runs.
26th over: Australia 156-0 (Warner 88, Finch 63)
Six! Well, it might have been a good time for a double change. The batsmen have seen a lot of Rishi Dhawan by now, and a charmed run like his 6 overs for 23 may have been too good to be true.
In Rishi’s seventh over, he delivers a half-volley and Finch just pounds it straight down the ground via Canberra’s airspace. Then two runs on the cut, then a single, before Warner tries to match the clout for six that instead hangs in the air before landing in front of Ishant at long-on. A more spry fieldsman might have charged in to catch that, but the lumbering Ishant recognised his limitations.
25th over: Australia 145-0 (Warner 87, Finch 53)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back to replace Jadeja. Slow seam bowling with a bit of swing replacing left-arm swing. He’s on the spot immediately, decent lengths and no width to swing, and this well-set pair can only take a single apiece from his over.
It’s extremely hot here, but thick clouds overhead now covering the sun that was out when the innings began.
24th over: Australia 143-0 (Warner 86, Finch 52)
Rishi continuing, bowling a selection of cutters and slower balls, rolling his fingers on the seam in various configurations. Five singles to various corners of the ground. Stalemate at the moment but Australia know they can launch later. Wickets are sorely required.
23rd over: Australia 138-0 (Warner 83, Finch 50)
Five singles from Jadeja’s over, just doing his best to give nothing away. Finch raises his half-century from 61 balls, he’s played the support role well. What an opening stand this is turning into.
22nd over: Australia 133-0 (Warner 80, Finch 48)
Warner taking on the infield at every opportunity. Goes to mid-on and runs with the stroke. The throw misses, then there’s a second throw at the other end that goes for an overthrow. Rishi Dhawan finishes his fifth over and he’s only gone for 18. Dhoni’s faith may be growing.
21st over: Australia 129-0 (Warner 77, Finch 47)
Ha, that’s entertaining stuff. Warner goes for the switch hit. Jadeja sees him coming and fires at what was his leg stump, but is now his off stump. Warner cuts to what was fine leg and is now effectively third man. The interesting thing is that Jadeja could have bowled way down Warner’s leg-side, but it wouldn’t have been wide because it would have started as his off-side. You get me?
Four runs total from the flat, fast, darting over.
20th over: Australia 125-0 (Warner 76, Finch 45)
Warner and Finch out to injure everyone on the field. They’ve done Kettleborough and Kumar, now Warner smashes the ball into Rahane’s hands at cover and looks to have opened a bandaged cut. Rahane runs straight off the field and down the player’s race.
Six from Rishi Dhawan’s over, still bowling tight lines.
19th over: Australia 119-0 (Warner 73, Finch 42)
Relaxing a bit, this pair. Warner knows he has a hundred in his sights now. Jadeja’s over goes for only four.
18th over: Australia 115-0 (Warner 72, Finch 39)
Interesting! You don’t often see the third umpire take the field and the fourth move into the TV box, but umpire Kettleborogh has had to retire hurt. That blow to the ankle from earlier is troubling him. The mighty Blocker Wilson has come out to take his place, and there are two local umpires on the field for the first time in a while. Anyone remember when that was changed?
Rishi Dhawan continuing to bowl well. There’s a wide, a leg bye that was nearly an lbw but pitching outside leg, and a single.
17th over: Australia 112-0 (Warner 72, Finch 38)
Jadeja, left-arm, nominally turning the ball towards Warner. All of his outfielders are accordingly on the leg-side. Third man, point and cover are in the circle. So Warner reverse-sweeps the first ball for four. Drives the next through the covers for four. Hands Finch the strike and says “You have a go.”
Finch gives it back, then Warner aims a square drive that skews off the edge through gully and goes to the perimeter once more.
15 from Jadeja’s first over, the century partnership is up, and Finch has scored his 2000th ODI run. All happening.
16th over: Australia 97-0 (Warner 58, Finch 37)
No such problem scoring from Mann though, as Warner gets a full off-spinner plopping down outside his off-stump from around the wicket, and slogs it square for four. Gives Finch the strike and Finch goes over cover. Ten from the over, and Mann’s time with the ball may be done.
15th over: Australia 87-0 (Warner 53, Finch 33)
Sharma, R. makes a comeback in the field, a fine diving save to cut off a Warner cover drive. That required the Superman dive just like his earlier attempt at a catch. They got three singles to start the over, but Rishi managed to dot Warner up as he struck the next three balls to the field.
14th over: Australia 84-0 (Warner 52, Finch 31)
Six! Warner has seen enough of Mann. After trading singles with Finch, Warner drops down onto one knee, where he’s spent a lot of his time today, and plonks the spinner over deep square leg into the Manuka crowd densely populating the narrow hill on the southern side of the ground.
That’s a half-century for Warner, from 56 balls.
13th over: Australia 75-0 (Warner 45, Finch 29)
Finch dinks a single, who’s added three runs in four overs. Nice diving save from Yadav coming across from mid-off as Warner drives well through the covers. Finch cuts another run. This is Rishi Dhawan, the medium-pace all-rounder, who Dhoni said before the series would be hard to pick given he’s not so fast, but who has been picked regardless.
12th over: Australia 72-0 (Warner 44, Finch 27)
Dropped! Oh, that would have been a bonus. No Ashwin, so Gurkeerat Rupinder Singh Mann comes on to bowl part-time off-spin and try turning it away from the left-handed Warner.
Warner has two sighters, then goes down for the hard sweep and Rohit at backward square leg has to dive sideways at the airborne ball. Very tough catch but he needed to take it. Not a good day in the field for Rohit, and of course the ball goes for four.
11th over: Australia 66-0 (Warner 39, Finch 26)
A lengthy delay as Kumar gets treatment. Warner lathered a straight drive back at him, Kumar got a hand to it to try and cut it off, and only succeeded in injuring himself before the ball skewed away to the boundary anyway. He gets some physio attention, Kumar, and is eventually able to continue.
Warner’s concentration is broken as Warner plonks into the covers, takes off for a run, and probably would have been run out had Jadeja’s throw hit after a brilliant sprint and pick-up. He was sensational in the field in Melbourne, too, Ravindra Jadeja. Perhaps confuses players with his left-handed fielding.
10th over: Australia 59-0 (Warner 33, Finch 25)
Another tidy over from Ishant, who takes four balls to concede a single to Finch. Warner manages to work three through midwicket, and that’s all she wrote.
9th over: Australia 55-0 (Warner 30, Finch 24)
Not convincing stuff from Finch, once again. He walks at Kumar and tries to smash him over mid-off, but gets a big inside edge to fine leg. Two runs, then a single thanks to the third Rohit misfield at cover. Now it’s Warner’s turn to be becalmed, unable to score through the second half of the over.
8th over: Australia 52-0 (Warner 30, Finch 21)
That’s a great over from Ishant. Not something I type too often, given his tendency to humorous interludes, but he ties down Finch beautifully with a very tight line on off stump. Finch can only get a single from the last ball.
7th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 30, Finch 20)
That’s a more traditional route to four runs. Finch gets on the pull shot against Yadav, lifting it over square leg to the rope. Then he plays the cheeky uppercut for a single. Absolutely massive total on the cards here, the 50 up from the first 38 balls. Warner sees out a couple ofdots to close the over.
Updated
6th over: Australia 45-0 (Warner 30, Finch 15)
Finch was very good at finding the field with his decent shots down in Melbourne, and he’s doing exactly the same as Ishant Sharma bowls his first over. Smashes a cover drive but straight at Rohit, who knocks it down, fumbles, recovers.
Ha! Then talking about not finding the gaps, Finch crashes a straight drive straight into the umpire. Kettleborough lost sight of that ball and it hit him in the ankle, quite painfully. He winces and walks off the sting and waves to accept Finch’s apology. Then Finch hits straight to Kohli at mid-off.
Five! Finally, Finch finds an unorthodox way to the boundary. Turns to square leg, darts through for a run, the throw hits him at the non-striker’s end and rolls to the straight boundary. Finch wasn’t turning for extra runs, but once the ball hits the fence there’s nothing anyone can do.
5th over: Australia 40-0 (Warner 30, Finch 10)
Warner! Oh, he’s back. Facing out a maiden just to mess with us, then crashing another three boundaries. The first, down on one knee and slamming it down the ground. The next partly off the top edge, but pulled well enough to go fine. The third, that effortless drag flip through midwicket that he’s played already. Looked like a nudge for two but it rolled ahead of the chasing fieldsmen into the fence.
Another 14 to Warner in the over. Finch hasn’t scored in three overs while Warner has put on 27.
4th over: Australia 26-0 (Warner 16, Finch 10)
Crash. Warner starts to get his groove back with a cover flay to Kumar that flies off the bat. Classic Warner stuff. Then he goes back on his stumps and whips, a shape like a pull shot but with a diagonally downward bat through straight midwicket. Then again! More of a traditional pull that time, yanked squarer through true midwicket to the fence once again. Then tops off the over with a pressed single into the covers. Consummate ODI batting.
3rd over: Australia 13-0 (Warner 3, Finch 10)
Four! Lovely straight drive from Finch as Yadav gets too full. Yadav dials the length back and makes Finch flinch as he leaves a shorter one just on off-stump.
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Warner 2, Finch 5)
Kumar then undoes a lot of Yadav’s good work by giving Finch a friendly leg-stump ball that he flicks to fine leg for four. Finch gets a single, then Rohit is very loose at cover as he lets a Warner drive through for two runs. Both batsmen off the mark.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Finch 0)
They don’t make opening ODI overs like that anymore! Yadav bowls a tight line, and Warner is very hestitant on his return from paternity leave. On and around the off stump, and not one delivery astray. Lovely stuff, no room for Warner to move.
Interesting contrast on spin. The Australians have brought back Nathan Lyon for his 9th one-day international, replacing the seamer Scott Boland. The Indians have continued to leave out Ravi Ashwin, their only change being a seam swap of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Barinder Sran.
The other change for Australia is David Warner back to open the batting in place of the lucky and unlucky Shaun Marsh - unlucky because he made 62 last start in Melbourne, lucky because he gave up five catches during the course of that innings.
Hello once again, ladies and gentlebadgers. Controversy and interest here as the Australians have won the toss and chosen to bat. I would have thought they should look to press home the pyschological advantage of having chased so well by making India set a target once again.
As well as Kohli and Rohit Sharma have batted in those first three games, Australia has been the equal of whatever total they’ve put up. India’s batsmen have been unable to launch towards the end of their innings quite as strongly as they needed.
But instead, the Aussies will set a target of their own on a Manuka pitch that looks like an absolute road - but local Canberra pundit Brett McKay assures me that when the ball softens up it might just hold up a little in this surface.
Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, this here is a cracking read, in case you missed it.
